Summer Days with your Patio Umbrella

Spring is here and it's time to prepare for those lazy summer days with your friends and family in your backyard, at the beach, or lazing and fishing at your secret spot on the river. You will want to pull out your outdoor patio umbrella and check that the frame and canopy are in usable condition. Even if they are, it's nice to look at the new colors and designs that have been launched for the season. Have you been putting off buying the sleek new side post or offset umbrella, now is the time to place your order. Due to the large number of color choices for frames and fabrics, you want to avoid delays in production and order before the rush.
Apart from the aesthetic appeal of outdoor patio umbrellas, the major purpose of their use is to block UV rays which cause degradation of outdoor furniture including the umbrella canopy's and also are a health risk for people exposed for prolonged periods to the sun. For this reason, it is highly recommended to use shade structures such as umbrellas.  To maintain the finish and quality of the product it is always recommended to store the umbrella in a dry shaded area when not in use. It is best to close it when not in attendance to prevent wind related damage.
For people with disabilities the auto tilt umbrella is a good option although the user will still be required to turn the crank to raise, lower or tilt the umbrella. Many new swimming pools have shallow wading areas for children to play in. The pool manufacturers create holes in the pool floor for the user to insert the umbrella into. For installations such as this, outdoor patio umbrellas manufactured from fiberglass are recommended as they are not affected by the chlorine and other chemicals used in the pool.
The majority of the better quality outdoor patio umbrellas available in the USA use Sunbrella fabric for their canopies. This fabric is washable. It is recommended to follow the manufacturer's cleaning instructions as follows: You should if at all possible soak the fabric in a solution of 1/4 cup mild soap per gallon of lukewarm water. If you can't remove the canopy to soak it, spot cleaning can be done with the same soap solution. Use a sponge or a soft bristle brush and gently brush the affected areas. Rinse the canopy thoroughly to remove all soap residues.  Leave the umbrella in the open position until the fabric has completely dried.
It is important to be sure to use a base heavy enough to prevent your outdoor umbrella from falling over in a wind. The base should also grasp the post tightly enough to prevent a wind pulling it out of the base. The wind is not your patio umbrellas friend and will readily damage cranks and tilt mechanisms and as well as bending posts and ribs.